"You made this?" - Pilemon, my father.
Those were the first words he spoke upon meeting me for the first time in my life. Not, "Wow! This child is so cute," or "Call me Daddy!"
No, he held the sandwich in front of my face and asked if I had made it.
Father my ass!
Ah, right. I forgot. He's the one who pulled an NTR on me by marrying Mia.
"Yes, Lord Pilemon." - I bowed my head, responding with the polite gesture of a nobleman. "To have you visit my humble abode is an honor. Please, allow me to invite you to sit."
I quickly scurried to pull out the only adult-sized chair in my room.
"Hmm... you know your manners. It seems Mia has done a good job teaching you. She's not just good in bed, then."
I wanted to kill this guy.
No matter how you looked at it, Pilemon still looked like a high school-aged brat. Sure, he was taller than me and had the air of a great noble, but with the same brown hair as me and those green eyes, his face was still that of a kid.
Perhaps the only problem with this guy was his wispy mustache.
I have no idea what it's for.
Is he a kid trying to look cool and more mature or something?
Anyway, Pilemon didn't seem very impressed with the sandwich he was holding. He just glanced at it one more time before placing it on the only table in my room and rubbing his chin. Those green eyes stared at me as if trying to see into my very soul.
"Sticking meat and cheese in bread isn't very impressive," Pilemon said. "But for a three-year-old to think of using salt water to soften the bread and add flavor is strange. Who taught you that?"
"Ah, I just found the bread too hard, so I often do that to make it easier to eat."
I had prepared that answer ever since I made the bread.
"Besides, I read it in a cookbook." I took out a cookbook I had 'borrowed' from Mia a few months ago. "I looked through it and saw a few things that could be improved to make meals more delicious."
Good, just keep listening, Pilemon. You'll see my value and won't just toss me away as a gift-wrapped commodity, hehehe.
"If I just let it ferment a little more..."
"Useless."
"Huh?"
I stopped smiling.
"For a nobleman's son to enter the kitchen... how unsightly."
Standing right in front of me, Pilemon was grinding his teeth.
"I didn't come here to praise you, kid. This is a warning." Pilemon's brow furrowed. "If you want to stay in this house, to be well-fed and well-clothed, then don't do the work of servants. Do you think going into the kitchen will bring glory to this family's name? If I need a cook, I'll hire a cook, not raise one. Understand?"
"Y... yes, I understand!"
"Tch. A bunch of useless ones."
Whoa, whoa. This guy is genuinely scary when he's angry. My heart nearly leaped out of my chest.
"But if you cause trouble, you have to face the consequences. Your childhood is officially over." Pilemon turned his back. "Starting tomorrow, you will learn swordsmanship and academics like Luke. If you can't even swing a sword properly within a year, I'll sell you into slavery. And don't try any tricks. I can see right through kids like you."
With those final words, the mustached brat who bore the title of my father was gone.
And that's how I escaped that cage a year and a half earlier than planned.
By being forced to train like hell.
From 5 AM every day.
No days off.
Memories of cramming for exams in my past life came flooding back, causing me to have my first sleepless night.
To study well, please get enough sleep.
Because I was beginning to experience the consequences of doing the opposite of that advice.
At exactly 5 AM, I was indeed woken up by Ken. The goateed knight had now become my 'personal guard' with the duty of supervising and protecting me during my studies.
"Did you bring any 'Night Watchman's Bread' today?" I asked with a wide grin.
"..."
Ken didn't answer. His face was unusually stern, his eyes fixed straight ahead, not even bothering to glance down at me.
Ah, right... he must have been reprimanded by that brat Pilemon. After all, he was a knight who used to be free to patrol, and now he had to follow and protect a little kid. He must be pretty pissed off.
But it's okay, Ken, I won't cause any trouble for you. I'll be a good boy.
I wasn't taken to a school like Luke. Since I wasn't yet five, I was still forbidden from stepping outside the mansion. That's why Ken would be my first teacher.
"Get into position. Correct. Hold that for thirty minutes."
This bastard was making a three-year-old hold a stress position for a full thirty minutes.
You psycho!
Of course, I was about to throw a fit, but when I thought of Pilemon's hateful face, I endured the pain and trained.
In the end, an hour passed. I was lying face down on the ground.
Ken had tricked me into holding the position for a whole hour instead of the half-hour he'd said. This world without clocks is really inconvenient.
"Well done, Atur." Ken helped me up and slung me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "It's time to eat. After that, you'll begin practicing your sword swings until noon."
I just wanted to die.
"So, Pilemon doesn't know swordsmanship?"
"It's 'Lord' Pilemon." Mia tapped me on the head as we sat in the library. "But yes, that's right. Lord Pilemon doesn't study the sword. He spends most of his time socializing, meeting, and networking with other nobles. He is truly a skilled diplomat."
"Then why does Pilemon make me and brother Luke learn the sword?"
"Because of Paul," Ken was the one who spoke up this time.
"Paul?" I tilted my head.
"Lord Pilemon's older brother," Ken explained. "He is a genius swordsman."
"Even better than the 'Advanced-rank Swordsman' Sir Ken?"
I tilted my head to the other side, a mocking smile on my face.
"Better. By a lot. I'm only an Advanced-rank swordsman of the Water God Style, and I'm already forty. Lord Paul, on the other hand, reached the Advanced rank in all three main schools before he was even 20."
"Huh?"
"In other words, he's a monster in swordsmanship," Ken sighed. "But that skill is useless for being a noble. He disliked the restrictions, argued with his father, and left home when he was just 12."
To be honest, I really want to run away from this place too, so I can understand what Uncle Paul was feeling.
"Lord Pilemon doesn't show it, but he was always annoyed when his father would compare the two brothers. As a result, Lord Pilemon decided to raise all his own children to be talented."
I had heard about this over a year ago. So that was the more detailed story. Competing with his brother and then projecting that frustration onto his children... very much like an Asian father.
"So when he saw that Atur was bright, Lord Pilemon was happy to make a special exception and allow you to receive a broader education earlier than usual."
"What an honor for me."
I said with a sarcastic smile.
But still, this was better than being sold into slavery.
"Sir Ken, you know a lot about the Notos family's affairs, don't you?" Mia remarked, impressed after hearing the story.
"That's because I've been working here since the time of Lord Amarant."
"What kind of person was Lord Amarant?"
"Well..."
And so, my lesson turned into a gossip session for those two.
But thanks to that, I was able to spend some free time running around this vast library.
"Here it is."
I had found the introductory book on magic.
Even though it was forbidden, after I begged until my throat was sore, she finally gave in and let me read magic books.
And so, I've been learning magic for three months now.
Since neither Mia nor Ken knew magic, I had to figure things out on my own, which was quite disappointing.
It's not that the magic system here is weak or anything. Quite the opposite, it's amazing. From creating steam from nothing, to fireballs that burn illogically without following the law of conservation of energy... basically, anything that's possible could potentially be done.
It made me wonder if I could travel through time.
But let's put that aside for now and get back to why I was disappointed.
My mana capacity is pathetically low.
Just creating a water ball was enough to drain my mana and leave me panting.
At first, I thought, "Ah, it's because I'm still a kid," but life isn't a dream. The book clearly stated that each person's mana capacity is fixed and doesn't change over time.
That means my path as a magician was officially closed after losing the 'reincarnation lottery'.
But that doesn't mean I gave up. I still decided to research magic. Even if I couldn't become a magician, I still found some very interesting things.
Magic circles.
They were originally the foundation of magic in this world before people discovered how to use incantations to cast spells. In other words, this is the field of 'fundamental magic' - the one that grasps the reasons why magic is created, why it happens, and all sorts of other abstract things. Meanwhile, regular mages practice 'applied magic' - they rely on the research of 'fundamental magic' to improve and apply them in practice through fireballs, water balls, or even creating rain.
And to make it even easier to understand, I am researching the nature of magic itself.
Not to become stronger or more useful or anything, but mainly just for fun.
Well, I've always liked to tinker with things that are as fundamental as possible. Because only by grasping the lowest-level laws can one build upon that foundation to expand the scope of development.
I think it might be because the study of magic circles has been neglected that the development of magic in this world has shown signs of stagnation for several hundred years. According to the books, there have been no breakthroughs in magic since the war with Laplace 400 years ago.
And I, Atur Notos Greyrat, will be the one to break that stagnation!
So now I have to study, have to practice, draw lots and lots of magic circles, and research their nature!
"Atur is certainly strange, isn't he?" Ken sighed.
"Hehe, seeing him so focused on drawing like that, maybe he'll become an artist," Mia giggled. She really thought I would settle for learning some art form to win over women.
But that's fine too; it keeps me from being seen as a weirdo.
"You know, looking at it closely, our family crest really does look like a pair of huge breasts covered by grapevines."
"See? I told you so! Your big brother has a keen eye, doesn't he?" Luke puffed out his chest with pride.
This is Luke, my eldest brother.
Contrary to my initial impression of him as a perverted little brat who groped a maid's butt at the tender age of five, Luke is actually quite pleasant and acts like a proper older brother.
When he came home from boarding school and heard that I was undergoing the same 'hellish training' he once did, Luke immediately sought me out to talk.
Initially, Luke just wanted to see what kind of kid I was to have caught Pilemon's attention. But when he saw my 'tenacity' during my sword practice with Ken, Luke immediately acknowledged me as his little brother.
"You have the spirit of a Notos man! Well done, little brother!"
That's what he said.
He had no idea I was only trying so hard because I didn't want to be sold into slavery.
And during his rare one-month vacation, Luke decided to become a supportive big brother and help me with my studies.
"But speaking of size, that's not even that big, my dear brother. My sword instructor's breasts are way bigger."
"How big are they, my dear brother?"
"About this big." Luke spread his arms wide with a perverted look on his face.
"Wow, that makes me want to go to school with you, hehe."
An outsider probably wouldn't believe this was a conversation between a three-year-old and a six-year-old.
But the maids walking by didn't say anything, so they must have been used to it.
Because the perversion of the Notos family has been proven for generations. The average age for the boys of this house to become men is around their 10th birthday.
That explains why Pilemon had a child at the age of 10.
So, in four years, when Luke turns 10, will I have a nephew? And in just 10 more years, a great-nephew?
How terrifying. In my previous life, I didn't even have a single nephew or someone like that who would bother to see me after I went bankrupt.
But thinking that in a few years I might lose my virginity after two lifetimes isn't so bad, hehe.
"Atur. It's time for sword practice." Ken walked into my room, right in the middle of our fun.
"No! I want to play with brother Luke a little longer!" I pouted.
"If you don't focus, I will report it to Lord Pilemon."
"Ugh..."
After only half a year of training, this goateed old man had already figured out my fatal weakness. I was starting to regret telling him about Pilemon threatening to sell me into slavery. At first, I thought I'd get some sympathy, but in the end, he just used it as a trump card to force me to train until I was half-dead.
That's why I didn't tell Mia or Luke.
I didn't want to be so cruelly betrayed again.
"Is it time for class already?" Hearing I had to practice swordsmanship, Luke stood up. He adjusted his clothes to look presentable. "Work hard on your sword skills, little brother. We'll have a match one day."
"You're on!" I replied with a thumbs-up.
"No! You guessed wrong again!"
Thwack!*
And so, I was hit on the head with a wooden sword. It wasn't hard, but Ken certainly wasn't holding back.
"Oww..."
"Get up. Today, we must complete 'Reading'."
Ken didn't offer a hand to help me up. He just stood there, his massive frame blocking the sun, casting a huge shadow that completely covered me. From this angle, he looked just like a bear in armor.
"Yes, sir..."
I struggled to my feet, my head still ringing.
What I was doing here wasn't exactly sword practice.
Well, yes, I was holding a sword, and Ken was holding a sword, but unlike the usual drills of just swinging with the correct form, I was now being 'taught' the real skills of the Water God Style. And the first introductory skill of this school of swordsmanship was: 'Observation'.
To put it simply, I just needed to read what my opponent was going to do next.
Did I say 'simply'?
I was joking, ha ha. It's incredibly difficult.
That's why I'd been getting beaten black and blue all week. Ken told me this was the most basic skill; if I couldn't pass it, I would never be able to conquer 'Beginner-rank' - the lowest level of the Water God Style.
"That's why people prefer the Sword God Style. Just swing fast and hard, no need to use your brain. But a true swordsman must have calmness and a keen eye," Ken had said when he started leading me down the path of the 'Water God Style'.
I had been very excited. The idea of following an underrated school always gave me an indescribable sense of competitiveness. Like picking the weakest 'class' and grinding my way to the number one spot in one of those novels. Super cool!
But after actually 'enrolling', I was starting to regret it.
"I want to learn the Sword God Style..." I mumbled, tears of misery welling up.
"Don't cry. You have to understand that a person's personality and ideals determine which school of swordsmanship they are suited for. I think you, Atur, are most suited for the Water God Style," Ken said with a shrug.
"Huh? Why?"
"Because you have calmness and patience," Ken explained. "Those are virtues suitable for the Water God Style. Now, let's continue."
"Yes, sir..."
To say I'm patient is true. With my experience from a past life, I couldn't have gotten far without patience. But calm, not so much. I think I'm quite impulsive. That's why I got myself into that lawsuit that led to my downfall in my previous life after all.
"By the way, Atur."
"What is it, Master Ken?"
"Your 'Night Watchman's Bread' is quite popular among the guards. I heard some adventurers have also adopted the method and created some variations to suit them. And dishes like 'Rolled Eggs' and 'Breaded Chicken Scraps' are also very well-liked."
"Oh-ho?"
Actually, since Pilemon forbade me from entering the kitchen, I haven't just been sitting around. I started asking Mia to instruct the maids to cook things I specified, mostly simple things like Japanese rolled omelets, chicken katsu, etc. Of course, all without ingredients like mirin or panko breadcrumbs; I had to try and find something similar to create them.
The result? Japanese-style dishes that became popular among the common folk, not just because they were delicious, but also because they were novel, a stark contrast to the monotony of 'soup' and 'bread'.
"In other words, you're quite famous, Atur."
That sounds like good news. Haha, I'm famous now.
"So don't worry." Then Ken suddenly placed a hand on my shoulder with a sympathetic smile, which made me shiver a little. "If you get sold into slavery, some tavern will surely buy you."
This was a 'Plan B' I hadn't even considered.
After the hellish lesson, I finally got to study with Luke. Even though he was on break, Luke was clearly not let off the hook by Pilemon, who made him study in the library under Mia's supervision.
It was a calculated move, but since Mia was my ally, the two brothers ended up chatting instead of studying. However, during our conversations, I realized something strange.
Pilemon treated his other children, including Luke, quite gently. Despite the pressure, Luke wasn't threatened or glared at like I had been. At first, I thought it was a privilege of being the legitimate heir, but even the other illegitimate children born to maids like me weren't threatened with being sold into slavery. I felt a little hurt.
What the hell did that guy hate me so much for?
But whatever. Even without that father, I had a pretty cool older brother in Luke—a bit childish, a show-off, and a pervert, but still a proper big brother.
"So my little brother hasn't gotten past 'Reading' yet, huh? Well, it's not easy. It took me two years to get it. For you, it'll probably take five."
He's showing off again. Two years is the standard time.
"You're so cool, brother Luke!" I feigned excitement. "So, do you have any tips for me?"
"Tips? Just focus on getting hit, and eventually, you'll develop the reflex to dodge."
Useless advice.
I definitely had no intention of being hit on the head by Ken for two years, nor did I want to be sold as a servant to some inn. I am a reincarnated person; I must defy fate!
"Anyway, why are we talking about this? Let's play that 'head-knocking' game you suggested. Rock-paper-scissors, loser gets a knock on the head," Luke proposed with a grin.
"Alright! Rock-paper-scissors!"
I lost. Of course.
"Hey! I wasn't ready..."
I got a smack on the head before I could even grab my 'protective helmet'.
Oh well, I'll let my big brother have the first round.
Result: I lost 70, won 30.
What kind of ridiculous ratio is this?
"Haha! See your big brother's power, Atur?" Luke stood with his hands on his hips, laughing gleefully after getting to knock my head 70 times.
Luckily, my reflexes were good enough to put on my helmet, or my head would have been a bruised mess.
"Anyway, it's time for dance practice. I'm off. Let's play again tomorrow, Atur."
And with that, Luke skipped away happily.
Leaving me behind in confusion. The researcher's brain in me felt that something was wrong with that game of rock-paper-scissors. Did Luke cheat? I don't think so. He's competitive, but not that cheap. And I checked; there were no tricks. There were even a few times I deliberately threw my hand late and still lost.
"It's like he knew what I was going to do beforehand."
A shiver ran down my spine.
"Wait a minute..."
Suddenly, I had accidentally found a way to practice that 'Reading' technique.
Clink*
"Hup!"
"Oh? You blocked it?"
Ken raised an eyebrow when he saw that I had not only blocked but blocked his attack with such precision, as if I had known exactly where and when the thrust would land.
In other words, it was a 'perfect defense'.
"It seems Atur has learned 'Reading' in just one month. Impressive." Ken rubbed his bearded chin and nodded. "It usually takes people much longer than that. You truly are a genius of the Water God Style."
"It's just practice."
To achieve this result, I spent a full eight hours every day just playing rock-paper-scissors with one person after another. It got to the point where the maids would run away the moment they saw me.
So, whereas a normal person with a normal physique would spend one or two hours getting hit to learn 'Reading' through sword practice, I spent five, even ten times the normal amount of time.
Besides rock-paper-scissors, I also spent time observing how butterflies flew and how leaves fell to grasp their patterns or 'flow'.
Now I can understand why Ken said someone as 'patient' as me was suited for the Water God Style. A normal person would probably go insane if they tried to learn my way.
"At this rate, the will soon surpass Lord Pilemon's requirements," Ken nodded. "This way, you don't have to worry about being sold. What a shame."
In all my life, this is the first time I've met a knight who wants his master to be sold off like this guy. He really hates me for making him lose his position as a patrol knight!
"Does master really want his disciple to be sold off?"
"Want to? No," Ken shook his head. "But I think you'd be happier in the kitchen than practicing the sword like this."
The man then scratched his bearded chin.
"A few months ago, when I first met you and saw you enthusiastically explaining your 'Night Watchman's Bread', I could feel your pride and passion. Then, when you made requests for those strange dishes, I got the feeling that you are truly more passionate about cuisine than combat."
That's obvious. I don't like fighting. If there's one thing I love about this world, it's its magic system. However, my progress in that complex subject is painfully slow.
Honestly, I do want to go back to the kitchen, to cook for myself like before. But compared to losing the privileges of a nobleman, this trade-off is not at all balanced.
"It's okay, master. As long as I perform well after my 5th birthday, I'll ask Pilemon for my own kitchen."
That is precisely my goal. I am a fish, and a picky one at that, so if I'm going back to the pond, it has to be at least a Michelin-star pond.
"By then, I'll cook things even more interesting than 'Breaded Chicken Scraps'!"
"Sigh... that's not what I meant," Ken sighed. "But it's something to look forward to."
It's decided. In just over a year, I'll be back in my proper field! For now, back to sword practice!
In three months, I'll be four years old, which means I have three months left to show off some talent to Pilemon so he'll agree to hold a birthday ceremony for me when I turn five.
With the current situation, I'm more than capable of meeting the criteria, according to Ken. I'm already a 'Beginner-rank' Water God Style swordsman and can neutralize most basic attacks. Ken calls it genius.
I call it 'effort'.
But what it's called doesn't matter. At least I've secured a ticket to ensure my position won't be eliminated.
Besides that, Luke and I have also become closer. Somehow, he doesn't have to go to school anymore. I don't even care the reason and neither does Luke. In addition to our perverted conversations, my big brother also told me about the noble relationships and the high society at the school he attends. Which girls are pretty, who's a scoundrel, who's easily intimidated... I was told everything.
His purpose was to help me understand the environment that, while seeming to be just 'simple academics', was actually full of schemes and class discrimination.
"If you're the son of a baron, your life is pretty much miserable," Luke said.
"Just the sons? What about the daughters?" I asked.
"That depends on whether she's pretty or not."
"Hmph..."
That sounds really bad. Just hearing these things makes me not want to go to school anymore.
"But don't worry." Luke patted my head with a wide smile. "If anyone bullies you, I'll tell my friends cut them down!"
That's truly heartwarming. A single tear quivered on my eyelid. Luke is truly a reliable older brother.
"But if there are any pretty girls, I get first dibs, okay?"
He's not so reliable anymore.
Besides my relationship with Luke improving, Mia hasn't been coming to my place as often lately, and I've been given the freedom to study on my own. The reason she visits less is because the woman I'd secretly had a crush on is now pregnant - with Pilemon's child.
It really stings.
But since it's also my sibling, I have to accept it. I hope it's a well-behaved and understanding sibling like me.
Since no one was supervising me during study hours, I spent 100% of my time researching magic. After many failures, I finally completed my first wind-creating magic circle.
Place my hand on it, channel mana, and wind blows from the circle, cooling the room just like an electric fan.
Excellent.
However, I suddenly realized something strange.
My mana seems to have increased compared to a few months ago. Although I still struggled with "Water Ball," instead of one, I tried again and managed to create two before collapsing on the floor.
"My mana is increasing!?"
I don't know the reason why. Maybe it's a special privilege because I'm a reincarnated person? I'm not sure, but it seems that every time I push myself to exhaustion, my mana gets a little stronger the next day. About... 0.5% per day.
A rather disappointing number?
No. It's an astonishing number.
Because with what is called the eighth wonder of the world, 'compound interest', I could increase my mana pool by six times in one year if that number remains constant.
If my hypothesis is correct, the path to being able to shoot more water balls than I have fingers might take a little over a year.
Everything seems to be going in the right direction. I'm quite optimistic about my future. Perhaps my path to becoming a magician isn't as hopeless as I thought.
Then, that fateful day arrived.
It didn't come with a loud bang, just a simple announcement.
"I have to go to the Royal Capital soon," Luke said. "To attend Princess Ariel's 5th birthday."
"The cute princess you always talk about?"
"Yeah." Luke seemed very excited and thumped his chest. "And according to the arrangements, I'll be the first one to dance with the princess at the party!"
"Good for you."
I smiled sarcastically.
Although I've never met Ariel, this princess must be quite special. Because whenever Luke mentions her, he doesn't have a trace of 'lust' but only a deep admiration.
To the point where I thought it was some kind of 'pure love'.
Now that he gets to dance with her, I can somewhat guess how ecstatic Luke must be feeling.
But thinking back, three months before Luke returned, he was forced by Pilemon to learn dancing extensively. Our old man must have been planning this for a very long time.
And wanting to marry off his son to a princess, no less. A bold move, Pilemon.
Because Luke was so important, to the point of being considered a 'tribute' item, it seemed that the strongest knights had all been summoned to the mansion to escort him to the Royal Capital. Looking outside now, the Notos estate looked like it was preparing for a war.
"Seeing so many people makes me a little scared," Luke admitted as he looked down from the second-floor window of the library.
"You're being protected to the teeth, and you're scared?" I asked.
"It's because there are so many that I'm scared."
Luke sighed.
"The road to the Royal Capital is long, but I've traveled it a few times. There aren't many magical beasts or bandits. Yet Father is sending so many people, it makes me feel a bit uneasy."
"Hmm..."
That's true. Pilemon is a strange guy but always has a plan; he definitely doesn't do things for no reason. If he did it, there must be a reason, even if it's sometimes a bit exaggerated and overly cautious.
Is he afraid of something?
"That's right." During the next sword practice, Ken also nodded in agreement. "The road from Milbotts to the Royal Capital is the safest route in all of Asura. Normally, just two advanced-rank swordsmen are enough to ensure safety."
"So why the need for a hundred men?" I asked.
"Perhaps for a show of force."
"To whom?"
"I don't know. You should go ask Lord Pilemon."
There's no way he'd talk to me. I've tried to approach him, but every time he just glares at me before turning to laugh and talk with Luke.
I don't get it. Some father he is.
"Or perhaps this is related to the succession turmoil brewing in the Royal Capital."
"What turmoil?" I tilted my head curiously. "Sounds serious."
"I'm not too familiar with it, just rumors. In any case, it's not something a knight like me should be discussing," Ken shrugged.
Well, whatever. The decision has been made, so I shouldn't worry about it. Luke will be leaving tomorrow. I'll see him off, and that'll be that.
And if Luke runs into trouble, I'll become the next eldest son. The inheritance will be mine, hehe. Then I won't have to worry about being sold into slavery.
Just kidding, of course.
No matter what, I'm quite fond of Luke. I hope his journey is uneventful. I mean it. Go for it, Luke! Don't die! Live a long life so your little brother can leech off you when you become the head of the family!
"Sigh..."
"What's wrong, Sir Ken?"
"It's nothing," Ken shook his head. "I just have a bad feeling."
The knight looked towards the elite army that had been assembled with a complicated expression.
"Are you worried about Luke?"
"No, I think Luke will be safe. Anyone who dares to attack him would be courting death."
"That's true."
"What I'm worried about is that gathering all of Milbotts' knights like this will be dangerous for the entire domain. If a village gets attacked, there will be no one to protect it."
Hearing that, I suddenly shivered.
That's right. This world isn't peaceful at all. Magical beasts, monsters... they exist and are extremely dangerous. Although I've never seen one with my own eyes, the stories told about fearsome things like a giant bear with skin as hard as iron, or wild boars that can knock down a wall... The world out there is extremely dangerous and full of hidden perils.
If a village full of ordinary people were attacked by those things...
I could only imagine a horrific scene.
"I hope that doesn't happen."
Hearing Ken say that, I also nodded.
I hope so too.
But neither I, nor Ken, nor anyone else at the mansion that day could have imagined that it would really happen.
A small village at the eastern edge of the domain was completely destroyed by a monster attack, which was only stopped thanks to the intervention of a group of adventurers.
An orphaned girl was rescued from that place, carrying with her a burning hatred for all nobles, especially the House of Notos Greyrat. And she will be the one I would have no small amount of trouble in the future.
And to make matters worse, that was the very village where Mia was born and raised.
The woman with whom I had a special connection was so shocked that she had a miscarriage.
Then, just three days later, she ended her own life with a vial of poison.
That was the first time in this life that I learned just how harsh the world I existed in could be.
...